Apparatus for making sheet glass



Nov. 3, 1925.

F. GELSTHARP APPARATUS FOR vAKNG SHEET GLASS Filed May 7, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet Nov. 3, 1925.

F. GELSTHARF APPARATUS FOR MAKING SHEET GLASS Filed May '2. 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INK/EN TOR f Kilt.

Nov. 3, 1925. 1,56o,b7s

F. GELSTHARP APPARATUS FOR MAKING SHEET GLASS Filed. May '7, 1.923 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 [3 F l E aq'.

/N VEN TR lwww C 1 ai@ Nom 3 1925- 1,560,078 F. GELSTHARP APPARATUS FOR vAKNG SHEET GLASS 6 Sheets-Sheet Filed May -7' 1923 INVENTTQR we. @i

dg/M7 APPARATUS FOR MAKNG SHEET GLASS Filed May 7. 1923 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIELB- FIC-LQ- FIEJI.

/N VEA/TOR Nov. 3 1925- F. GELSTHARP APPARATUS FOR MAKING SHEET GLASS 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIGJZ.

/N VEN TOR LLA/aja ci @MMM Patented Nov. 3, i925 'res ,v

NT, FFICE.

:FBE'DELIK TABENTUM, PENNSYLVANIA, SSIGNGR T0 PITTSBURGH PLATE GLSS COMPANY, A CORPORATION QF BENNSYLVANIA.

APARAT'US FR MAKNG SHEET GLASS.

Application filed May 7,

To @..Z 'whom t may conce/'1%.'

Be it known that I, FREDERIC-ii GELS- 'rnfxnn a. oiizen ot' the United States, and a resident of Tarentum, in the county of 5 Allegheny :md State of Pennsylvania. leave application. It has for ,its principal ol)- jevle liao provision of means, (l) for inim'ovii'ig tlw edges of the continuelle ribbon or @con {51} for oliniinoting the bubbles itu zi Y introdueeei to the shoot uli/'Hizo e the in ,f outlet. slot fioiu the the rolls., for eliminatiro' the "fling i the extreme erigere o Hude to occur intermedio-te 35 loer. (4i id for mounting L he so that it may u unil roplaoini or adjusted .um en'llioiliinoiits ot the mi'ziulwi in the accompanying;

vorioul set-tion through un vullen ot the apparatus of roll@Y and leer removed to c'ion lool nd the rolle. Fig.

' ion on the line Ulf-Jill tank. Fig. l o il line IVM- AV of mail Y :tre deiioil views of mi flo-sure members at the il u vertical seoowwU modification. Fig. G is a ai '-ou on the line IX-1X of Fig. i5 eli the nlethocl of supporting the hollow' im Yulzir members. ig. l0 is n vertif l enolio showing :mother modifica (lou. l" 'il zi front elevation of the 'Ji-mrs' u1, with the rolle removed. *3 ll :we rivive Similar vto o.' illusi'iuling further flg'ing the invention. Fig.A

i933. sei-iai No. 637,126.

2 is o gate or shear cake suspended from above and operated by means not s llown; 3 is a clay outlet member having the outlet passage 4; 5 and b :1re hollow water cooled rolls connected with suitable driving mecl1- anism; 7, S. 9, 10, etc. are a series 'of rolls for supporting ltheglass sheet or ribbon 11 after it leaves the rolls 5 and 6; 12 are flattening rolls et the ed; es of the/sheets; 13 is the r ,er end of the flattening and annealing leer into which the glass sheet is conducted; and 14 is a truck which carries the rolls 5 and (i unil is mounted upon the rails 15.

The rolls 5 und fi, which are shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 in order not to inlet'- fere with a View of the parts behind lint at the sinne timeA to indicate their position, are prwidcil at their ends With iuterine-,shinl;r Spur gears 16 and 17 driven from a pinion 1S, the method of driving the rolls boing unimportant. and being illustrated in the utilisation heretofore referred to. The rolls ere lioilow und water Acooled as set forth in fi-aid application, the pipes 18- liring connected tho rolls :isset forth in constituting no tion. I

Tho clay outlet member 8 is provided with o frame eonsisiing o the 'vertical channels 19 and the horizontal channels 20 suitably Secured together in suoli Way as to support the member A clamping etl'ect upon the :lirico o? hunne of tho bolts 19 (Figs. Q and 3) which etenfl through ille wells of the channel@ l. In order to provide for the vertical olijf `4`inout of this member and also for its removal and replacement, it'J is suspended from above oy menne of the hangers 91 which are oonneeed to e suitable overheaf crane ii'ulependenl; of the body portion of the tank and the rollss it muy be readily removed for replacement or repair after the shear (folie 2 hue been zlioppeflinto the glass. At this. timo the truckv li. carrying the rollfs iS nit-ive@ forward eulioiently to secure pl'iiper .Armero lwi'u'oon the Poils and outlet u miler.

said-opplication and part of the present nvento swivels at the ends of' Since this outlet member is mounted the` member 3 is accomplished by l Ofi tendency heat resisting metal. rl`hese lips are carried upon the U-shaped brackets 2l riveted to the flanges of the channels lt). The brackets are slotted as indicated at 25 and bolts are passed through the members 22 and 223 and through these slots so that such members may contract and expand without buckling. These lip members 22 and 23 are preferably cooled by means of perforated air pipes .26 although they'might be cooled by radiation from similar pipes without the perforations by the use'of water or other suitable cooling liquid. I have. found that the use of these cooled lips be Ltween the outlet. and the rolls tends to elimi `nate bubbles which are otherwise sometimes produced in the glass when the glass passes directly from the clay lips to the rolls. l. believe. that this result is due to the fact that the surfaces of the layer of glass passing through the lips are so chilled that when these surfaces strike the rolls. any minute air pockets due to irregularities orerwhich the glass surface has passed.. arel prevented from becoming incorporated into the sheet because of the increased resistance of the chilled surface to penetration by the pai ticles or bubbles of air.

' This chilling of the surfaces of the layer of glass preliminary to its Contact with the rolls may be accon'iplished in a variety otl Ways as hereinafter' set forth and is particularly important, in connection with the lower side of the layer, at. which side the to produce bubbles is most n'iarked. The amount. of chilling of the glass secured between the outlet membery and the rolls depends on the width ot' the metal lips and the thickness of the metal, and these factors might be made such that too much chilling might be. secured even without the application of air from the. pipes, in which case the temperature. might he increased by circulating a heating medium through the pipes or by using them as burner pipes. The invention conteml'ilates broadly the application off temperature con trolling 'means for the metal lips interme diete the clay outlet member and the rolls. l ln order to close that triangular spaces at the ends of the rolls` the hollow metal members 3T are preferably employed, such members being secured by means of the tit! flanges 28 which are bolted to one of the lips. These. hollow members. which are shown in detail in Figs. 5 to 7 may he made of cast iron, but are, preferably7 made of heat resisting metal, such as a nickel chromium alloy. They are provided with burner pipes 29 through which an explosive mixture of gas and air is introdiwed to the chamber 30. The metal is at such a high temperature that the. gas ignites upon conv tactiug with. the interior surface of the chamber and thus gives surface combustion with a corresponding high temperature.4

Provision is made for the escape of the gases of combustion throueh the slots 31'.

The sides 32 of thevmenibers are preferabl spaced away from the surfaces of the 7- rol s 5 and 6 as.indicated inA Fig. 6, as the temperature of the members is moreA easily maintained if they are out of contact with the surfaces of the water cooled. rolls. The.

ends of the members are also preferably 7i' truncated or cut off as indicated in F ig. 6. It has been found that a better edge is secured u on tliesheet' or ribbon of glasswhen highly ieated closure members of this type are employed than when unheated member.;

unheated members or cooled members are 85 employed. An edge of 'this character is advantageous as Athe amount of breakage is reduced. The truncating or cutting away of the ends of the. triangularmembcrs has also proven of advantage in giving an edge which is. smooth and well rounded. In practice the glass from behind the rolls presses outinto the spaces 33 so that the sheet produced is of a width from 'one to two inches greater than the distance between the inner faces of the closure members. n

Due apparently to thetendency of .the edges of the sheet to cool more rapidly upon e their upper sides than on their lower sides; these edges have a tendency to turn up slightly. '1` his is almost imperceptible, but tends tocausc breakage when the sheets of glass produced are ground and plished. ln.'

order to counteract this tendency, the. flatteningl rolls 1'2 are'preferably employed anni the edges of the sheet in opposition to the' rolls 10. When the glass sheet, reaches this point, it is still red hot and plastic so that the edges may be flattened by thc applica tion of a slight amount. of pressure. 'The` roll ll at each side of the sheetis carried by a pin 84 mounted in the end of the lever 36. This lever is pivoted on the end of the roll 7 and the necessary amount of pressure is secured by means of the adjustable connterweight 37. After the edges are. flattened. the sheet passes on through the flattening and annealing leer 13 preferably of the type illustrated and more fully def" scribed in my application heretofore rt ferred to. i

Figs. S and 9 illustrate a modification inrotting the use of a metal lip 'only on the lower .side of the stream of glass passing lto the rolls. 'lhis lip 38 is chilled by air from the pipe 39 in the same manner as in the construction heretofore described. anda clay lip 4t) constitutine' a part ofthe outlet member 4l opposes t ie metal lip. In this cony struction the hollow metal closure members.

lli)

i. :1t the ends of the rolls are ilitl'erentlj; supported as indicated in Fig. 9. The shanlis -l-I of thesemembers are bolted to li'ael'cets il f-arried by the supporting trainevfork' 45.

kigs. 3 0 and ll illustrate still another modification which differs troni that of Fig. l that thel metal lips between the. outlet member and the rolls are omitted und in plane thereof transverse pipes lo andi? are en'iplo d which Contact with the Surface of the, and cool it, a cooling medium such as water or air being circulated through the pipes in such ivavnas to ,give the desired cool ingetliect. 'llhwhollovv end closure members B are the saine in construction those ol' F 8 and J and supliiorted in the same manner indicated in Fig. 9. The. pipes vi6 and 47 are supplied Afrom the inlets Hl ando() connected to the pipes intermediate their ends. The pipes 46 and 4.7 discharge at both ends through the outlets l and 52 ll). Figs. 12 and 13 illustrate another arrangement. for cooling the layer of glass intermediate the slot member 58 and the rolls. In this construction the metal lips ot Fig. l and the pipes 46 and l? of Fig. l0 are omitted.y and in platre thereo'a pair of air pipes 54 und are employed, which pipes are perforated so as to dirent jets of air into the cracks or olea-rance. spaces i6 and 57 lyingl between the, rolls and the clay lip of the outlet member' 53. In this manner a chillingr eifect is secured upon the layer of glass passing to the rolls and the tendency to incorporate ,air bubbles into the sheet is reduced. T his moditication' for controllingr the temprai'ure is notI as :iiesirable those hereto-Y fore described beeause'of the ditlieulty of securing exactly the right degree of temperature rnoi'litieation, the. tendentv being to eool the glass either too much or too little. Metal closure members 5S vsimilar to those of Finr 9 are employedi such members also bei nilarly supported Front, the slot. inein time 45,

l" .uit fi claim is:

l. The nbinetion with a. tank adapted to ear v a bath of molten glues. intl rolling meer at one. side, thereof for forming a. ribbon or sheet. of ot' a. clay outlet meinber eonstituting the end wall of the tank intermediate the. @dass bat/h and the rolling means and provided with an outlet opening ii'i'ir conducting the glass to the. rolling,v means, means tor removably supporting the .said member so that it may be moved edge wise to and 'from its position ot' use and adjusted vertically, and a out-off gate to then rear of said outlet member adapted when lon-ered to eut off the flow of glass to said outlet member.

The Combination with n' tank adapted to barry a bath of molten glass and rolling means al one side thereof lfor forming a ribbon or sheet of glass, of u clay outlet member constituting the `wall of the tank intermediate the glass bath and the rolling nie-ans. a metal supporting framework for the outlet member, and means engaging sinh framework t'or removably Supporting the .slot member from above so thatv it` may be removed or replaced bymovingI it edgewise.

3. In combination with a tank adapted to curr) a bath of molten glass, and havingv an outlet through one of its Walls, of a pair of cooled driven rolls in opposition to the outlet, closure members for the 4angular spaces between the rolls at the ends thereof, and heating deviees for said members. v

ll. The combination with a tank adapted to carril a. bath ot' molten glass, and hav# ing an outlet through one of the Walls, of va pair of cooled driven rolls in opposition to the outlet, metal closure members for the angular spares between the rolls at the ends thereof, and means for applying a gas heat` ing flame-to said members. i

The combination with alt-ank adapted to carry a. bath of molten glass, and having',r

. an outlet through oneof the Walls, of a pair of eooled driven 'rollsin lopposition to the outlet. hollow metal closure members for the angular spaces lbetween the rolls at the ends thereof, and means for supplying a. mixture. of gas. and air to the interior of said memf bers to heat them. '.1

6. The combination with a tank adapte-d to carry a bath of molten glass, and having ofcooled driven rolls in opposition :to the outlet., metahclosure members for the angume anoutlet tl'irough one of its Walls, of a pair liti lar spaces between the rolls at the end there# of arranged to' close such spaces except at the extreme forward ends of said spueefw` and means for heating said members.

8. The combination With a. tank adapted to carry n bath of molten glass, and having an outlet through one of its Walls, of a; pair of cooled driven rolls in opposition to the outlet, triangular 'metal closure members litting between the rolls at vthe ends thereof with the forward ends of the members cut away or truncated, and means for heating said members.

9. The combination with a tank adapted to carry a. bath' of molten glass, and having an outlet through one of the Walls, of a pair ot cooled driven rolls in opposition to the outlet with the pass thereof under the headpresiure of the tenlgand means `for cooling the/fl surfaceltli'e glass before it engages the rolls. tim width of suini outlet being T :iter than the Width of the pris hetueen the rohe.

l0. The combination with a trulli- :irlnpteil t u beth of molten fliesst und haring; an outlet through one o't its-z wallie. oi." n pimof cooled driven rolle in opposition to the outlet with the pass thereoiJ under the heini pressure of the trink and ineens for moling thelou'er surface of the passing troni the outlet opening to the rolls before such Seurin-ee engages .the roli, the \:i lth of sairl outlet being greater than the Width ol' the pales between the rolls.

l1. The combination with u tank minpunt t0 carry u bath of molten glues, and having lan outlet through one of the walls, of :i pair ot' cooled driven rolls in opposition to the outlet with the pass thereof under the henri pressure of the tank, und means for cooling the gie-ss intermediate the outlet member und the rolls, the width of Said outlet being greater than the wirlth of the paies between the rolls.

I2. The Combination with a tank adapted to carry :i bath or' molten glass, and having :in outlet through one of its walls, of n pair ot cooled driven rolle in opposition to the outlet, :i lip extending between the rolls over which the passes on its. wily to the rolls, and means for varying the temperature of such lip.

13. Lie combination with it trink adapted to curry a bath of molten glass, and having :in outlet through one of its Walls, ot a pair of cooled driven rolls in opposition to the outlet, a pair of opposing metal lips extending between the rolls, and menus for modifying the temperature of such lipse 1-, The combination with a tank adapted to carry a bath of molten glass, and haring an outlet through one, of its Walls, of :i pair ot' cooled drive-n rolls in opposition to the outlet n. ini-estoi l rolls over imien he gruss passes on its Way iler, and :nenne for rarying the tem ure or' sur i n.

i5. 'i e eo te rnrry heih ot' molten glass, haring :in outlet through one of iteI walls, of a pair ot' cooled driven roils in oppositin to the ontiel` n lip extending between the rolls over 'which the passes on ite Way to the rolle. end ineens for Chilling such lip.

1G. the combination with :1 tank adapted to curry :i hath of molten glass; sind having nu outlet through one of its walls, of a pair of Cooled ilriren rolls in opposition io the outlet` n wir of opposing metal lips between tiefer-.riet meinber- :nnl the rolls and extending' into the spare between the rolls :rnd means for Chilling; surh lipe.

XT. v'he combination with a tank adapted to curry berth' ofniolten glass and having nn outletthrough one of its walls, of a pair ot cooled driven roils in opliosition t0 the Outlet, a runway in arlrnnee of the rolls for receiving the sheet'or ribbon of glass formed between the. rolls and roller means engaging the upper side of the riohon at the edges only for flattening Such i8. The combination with u tank adapted to ef-irry bath of omiten glass and having.

in ontiet through one of Walls, of a pair or Cooled driven rolls in opposition to the outlet, n of rollers inadvance of Said relis for receiving the sheet or ribbonforined between the rolls and roller means 'in opposition to one of said roller engaging the upper side of the ribbon at the edges only for iattening Such edges.

in testimony whereof, have, hereunto subscribed my' name this 2nd day of May, 17923,

FREDER-CK GELSTHABP. 

